Fred Kogel, CEO of Leonine Studios, Germany’s premier independent film and television distributor and producer, has voiced strong support for the Skydance-led merger involving Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. In a recent conversation with Variety, Kogel discussed how the restructuring is likely to reshape the media landscape across German-speaking regions.
A central promise from Skydance chairman David Ellison during the merger negotiations was a commitment to produce more than 30 theatrical films annually. Kogel expressed confidence that this target is achievable, citing Ellison’s dual expertise as both a businessman and a creative producer. “He loves the business and he loves making movies,” Kogel noted, emphasizing Ellison’s history of delivering successful projects through Skydance.
Kogel acknowledged that increasing output is a complex undertaking requiring robust pipelines and long-term development strategies. However, he stated he has “complete trust” in Ellison and Skydance CEO Ynon Kreiz, describing them as a “very strong team” capable of navigating the current challenging market conditions.
While the increased volume of Skydance films could theoretically intensify competition for local distributors, Kogel does not view it as a threat. Instead, he argued that a crowded market is normal for Leonine, a competitor accustomed to vying with international majors. He stressed that the industry needs high-quality, audience-drawing titles rather than merely filling slots. “I don’t see it as a major problem… as long as the movies are of high quality,” he said, adding that any film that successfully brings viewers into theaters benefits the entire ecosystem.
The executive also highlighted opportunities for Leonine to collaborate with Skydance on both film and television production. Leonine already maintains a productive relationship with HBO Max in Germany, recently launching the series “Four Blocks Zero” and the documentary “Clangold.” Kogel pointed out that Germany represents the largest television market in Europe, making it a critical region for streaming services to invest in local premium content to build long-term audience loyalty.
Regarding the competitive landscape for streamers, Kogel believes that a merged Paramount+ and HBO Max entity will become a more formidable contender against rivals. He anticipates that the combined power of these platforms will increase competition, which he views as beneficial for content creators and licensees alike.
Kogel also noted the advantages of Leonine’s position within the Mediawan group, led by Pierre-Antoine Capton, which includes Plan B. This structure facilitates cooperation on productions such as the U.S. remake of the German hit “Weekend Rebels,” which was developed with Plan B and sent to Apple. He suggested that Mediawan’s successful French titles could also find distribution in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland through Leonine.
However, Kogel issued a warning regarding the regulatory environment: Germany lacks a competitive tax credit system for film production. He argued that without incentives matching those of other European countries or potential future U.S. programs, American studios will have little reason to shift production to the region. “That’s the missing link,” Kogel concluded, indicating that fiscal policy remains a barrier to attracting more international production business to Germany.
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